The second half of the 2009 season was very productive for the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead of going 6-2 with those last eight games, they went 3-5 by losing three games by seven points or less. Those games were the 17-10 loss to the Denver Broncos, or how about the 34-41 loss to the Cleveland Browns, and lastly the 16-10 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. All heart-breaking losses. Despite these terrible losses, there is still hope for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Before I compare the first half of the season with the second half of the season, I would like to look at our past draft picks. Our scouting department sucks bad with some of the draft picks that they have made. I’ll begin with the top three picks in the draft from 2006 to 2009. First up is the 1st round pick in the 2006 draft, Tamba Hali, who had 62 tackles and 8.5 sacks this season. The second pick was Bernard Pollard, who was cut on 9\5\09, and now is a starter for the Houston Texans. And our 3rd pick was Brodie Croyle, who looked good against the Baltimore Ravens, and is a nice backup for Matt Cassel.

Moving on to the 2007 draft, we picked Dwayne Bowe with our first pick, and Bowe was the best pick in the draft for us that year. However, our 2nd and 3rd picks are no longer on the Chiefs roster. I am speaking of Turk McBride, and DeMarcus “Tank” Tyler. Two busts at the defensive tackle position. Just like Junior Siavi, a first round pick in 2005 draft, who also was a bust.

Now, the 2008 draft was much better because we drafted Glen Dorsey, who had 54 tackles and one sack this year, and Brandon Albert, and Brandon Flowers, who had five interceptions this year, and was 5th in the AFC in interceptions. This may have been the best draft year that we have had in five years.

And last but not least, is the 2009 draft class. Our first pick was Tyson Jackson, who had a mere 38 tackles and no sacks in his first year. Also, there was Alex McGee, who had a measly eight tackles and two sacks in his first year as a Chief. Lastly, Donald Washington, CB, who had only five tackles in his rookie season.

The 2009 draft grade for the Chiefs is a “D.” Hopefully, Charlie Weis will help us to make better selections in the 2010 draft!

Now let’s look at some player production for the first eight games, and the last eight games. The Chiefs improved from 260 yards per game in the first eight games to 350 yards per game in the over the last eight. Also, the Chiefs went from 15 points per game during the first half of the season to 21 points per game during the second half of the season. In addition to this the Chiefs went from 0 rushing touchdowns to eight rushing touchdowns in the second half. Matt Cassel was sacked 30 times in the first eight games, but he was sacked only 15 times in the last eight games. And lastly the Chiefs had nine takeaways in the first half of the season to 19 takeaways for the second half.

Now regarding player production, I’ll begin with the “Derrick Thomas” (MVP) award winner, Jamaal Charles. Charles became the first player in NFL history to record a 1,000 yards rushing in under 200 carries. In the last four games of the season he rushed for 658 yards. In short, Charles ran for 152 yards in the first eight games, however he ran for 968 yards in the last eight games of the season. That is a remarkable feat. He also had the longest play from scrimmage with his 76 yard run against the Buffalo Bills.

Next up is Matt Cassel, who threw for1,256 yards during the first eight games of the season, but he threw for 1,668 during the last eight games of the season. He was also the 2nd leading rusher for the Chiefs this year, and that is not good. Moving forward, we can look at Chris Chambers, who was picked up during week seven of this season. In a half of a season he recorded 36 receptions for 608 yards. And Chris had the longest pass play from scrimmage with a 61 yard play the helped to defeat the Super Bowl champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up is Tyson Jackson, who had 12 tackles in the first eight games, but he had 26 tackles in the final eight games. Lastly, we’ll look at Glen Dorsey, who had 28 tackles in the first eight games, but only 26 and one sack in the final eight games of the season.

So, you see we have made progress as the season closed, and that is something to build off of for next season. If we could have a good draft class, and pick up some free agents, it could mean that we are playoff bound in 2010. Some free agents that are available are as follows:

WR, CB, and S

Brandon Marshall-Denver, Vincent Jackson- SD, Braylon Edwards-NYJ, Terrell Owens-Buffalo, Derrick Mason-Baltimore, and our own Chris Chambers.

Carlos Rogers-Washington, Dunta Robinson-Houston, Nick Harper-Tennessee, Nick Collins-Green Bay, Darren Sharper-NO, Roy Williams-Cincinnati, and lastly Atari Bigby of the Green Bay Packers.

With that being said, I hope that we can get T.O. to help Bowe, and Chambers.

We will make the Wild Card this year! And I say to keep Chris Chambers. My next article will cover my top 15 draft picks for the 2010 NFL draft.